WHITE BALLS ON WALLS
- Room G1 | Political Science Faculty | University of Naples Federico II
- October, 26 | 11:30 - 13:00
A film by Sarah Vos – Netherlands
The slogan “Meet the Icons of Modern Art” needs to be scraped off theglass wall of the Stedelijk, Amsterdam’s modern art museum, because“who are the icons of modern art” is precisely the question. Who gets todecide? And who loses out? In 2019, as director Sarah Vos startedshooting her documentary, more than 90 percent of the art at the Stedelijkhad been made by white men. The museum’s director, Rein Wolfs,believes that that’s got to change. However, it’s easier said than done,which becomes all too clear as Vos follows Wolfs and his team in theireffort to create greater diversity in the collection and among the staff. Itwas a brave move by the Stedelijk to allow a camera to go behind thescenes to witness a process that raises both uncomfortable and awkwardquestions. Can a painting still be titled The Prostitutes? When art isappraised, should the artist’s skin colour or gender be taken into account?And how should the museum engage with visitors who find all of this “toopolitically correct”?
This film is more than a behind-the-scenes look at a museum: in additionto presenting a new perspective on art history, it also magnificentlyencapsulates the struggles that many historical and cultural institutionsare grappling with today.
The film will be followed by a Q&A Session.
